Von Miller, a Buffalo Bills edge rusher who missed 12 games due to a ruptured ACL in 2022, did not record any sacks last season. Miller reportedly told Sports Illustrated that he probably shouldn’t have on the field in 2023. “My biggest individual goal is just getting back to playing my style of football,” he told me. “It’s crazy how you get injured and come back when you really shouldn’t have been playing, and people assess you based on your performance on the field. I could easily have sat out the entire season last year, but I couldn’t do that to my teammates. I thought that being later in my career, I didn’t want to waste any of my years. But at the same time, I should not have gone out there.”
Miller appeared to be struggling to regain his footing during his 34th season. He lacked the burst we’d grown accustomed to seeing. Given his injury history, the issue is whether another year after the ACL tear would put a spring in his step or if Father Time will end his latest career. Miller, who took a pay cut to stay in Buffalo this summer, promised to bounce back in 2024.
“I feel like people are judging me on that [last season], so it’s making me a little bit angry, to be honest,” added the comedian. “It’s causing me to reconnect with a Von I haven’t seen in a long time. I just want to return to playing my style of football. Get back to talking s—, f——, making sacks, dancing, and making plays for your teammates. That’s been my entire mindset this offseason. Miller will be relied upon by the Bills to provide a rotational edge behind A.J. Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau. This season, Buffalo’s pass-rushing corps is underdeveloped, so Miller’s output is critical if Sean McDermott’s team is to regularly harass the quarterback.
“The biggest team goal is bringing the first Super Bowl to Buffalo,” Miller stated. “Everyone works hard and believes they deserve it, but Western New York and Buffalo Bills fans really deserve it, dude. They provide our football team and our community so much. Josh Allen is one of the most incredible individuals I have ever met and one of the best players I have ever played with. I’m going to do all in my ability to provide it to these guys because they deserve it.” Buffalo is being undervalued in the AFC battle during this summer of transition. The talent that is still on the roster, starting with the standout quarterback Allen, is ignored by those estimates. Should Miller contribute even a small portion of his Hall of Fame output, the Bills will be able to stay competitive in the conference.
